Infrared Asphalt Repair

Infrared works best when applied to small pot holes, utility cuts, and wide cracks. It is also good for leveling frost heaves, seams, bird baths, adjusting manholes and water valves as well as creating swells in asphalt and patching tightly alligatored or cracked areas.

Infrared patching is not applicable to areas with severe sub-grade deformation, exposed pot holes, areas with gateloops, areas that are within 2 feet of painted metal or wood, areas inside of parking garages (due to height of truck), or areas adjoining landscape.

Truck Mounted Unit Foothills Paving & Maintenance, Inc. uses a truck mounted unit instead of a trailer mounted unit. This setup allows for better mobility. Our truck-mounted unit includes an asphalt hopper, which holds up to 4 tons of virgin asphalt material.		Heating This picture shows a 4′ x 8′ infrared heating pan. According to Webster’s New World Dictionary definition, infrared rays are “rays of light that are just beyond red in the spectrum. They cannot be seen, but they produce heat deep inside an object.” Infrared rays are generated in the heating unit, and directed to a specific location through a series of reflective panels.		Agitating After the area is properly heated and the asphalt is pliable, the crew uses a 4″ toothed rake to make the edges of the patch clean and straight. The softened asphalt is raked and agitated to homogenize the existing material between 2 and 3 inches in depth.
Adding New Material The crew will remove any excess material if necessary. New 3/8″ minus hot asphalt material is added to the surface.		Leveling The asphalt is leveled with an asphalt lute to achieve the desired grade.		Rolling A minimum one-ton roller/compactor is mandatory to get the maximum density in the new patch. The edges of the patch are rolled first to create a compacted perimeter around the patch. The rest of the patch is then compacted with the vibratory roller. The finished product is a seamless patch due to the joint-free blending of asphalt by the thermal bonding process.